One of the things I have always loved about Fearrington is the way the brick pathways gently lead you through the Village. They take you from store to store, building to building, through the gardens and around the Village Center, adding a sense of discovery—and, I think, a little romance—to the journey.
R.B. recently shared the story of how the idea first came about.
He and Jenny had taken their kids to the Land of Oz theme park in the North Carolina mountains, where, of course, there was a yellow brick road. R.B. remembers thinking that while Fearrington might not have a yellow brick road, perhaps it could have a brick road of its own.
And so, a brick path was created around the Village Center as one continuous circle. Once you step onto it, you can follow it all the way around, passing the shops, restaurants, gardens, and gathering places that make up the heart of Fearrington.
The pathway leading to The Fearrington House Restaurant has its own story. Jenny did not want a straight, formal walk. She envisioned something softer and more natural—one that would meander through the gardens and allow guests to enjoy the landscape along the way. To create the shape, she laid a garden hose on the ground, moving it until the curves felt just right. That simple outline became the path we still walk today.
There is something about a winding brick path that changes the way you experience a place. It slows you down. It invites you to notice what is blooming, to pause beneath a tree, to peek around the next bend, or to wander into a shop you may not have planned to visit.
The pathways do require constant upkeep. Bricks shift, roots grow, and time leaves its mark. But that is also part of their charm. They feel as though they belong here—settled into the landscape and woven into the history of the Village.
After all these years, they continue to do exactly what R.B. and Jenny hoped they would: connect the Village, guide our guests, and make the walk from one place to another part of the experience.
